College football winners and losers: Auburn, Ohio State and the case for a two-loss playoff team

The path for a two-loss playoff participant looks quite a bit clearer after Saturday afternoon.

There’s the long-shot scenario in the Big Ten, which suddenly seems a bit more plausible after Ohio State smacked Michigan State, 48-3. Suppose the Buckeyes (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten) win out and demolish Michigan and Wisconsin (the latter in the Big Ten title game) along the way. If there’s enough tumult elsewhere — in addition to a Notre Dame loss last night, Ohio State could capitalize on an Oklahoma loss and Alabama reducing its remaining opposition to rubble — why couldn’t it happen?

College football winners and losers: Auburn, Ohio State and the case for a two-loss playoff team

The path for a two-loss playoff participant looks quite a bit clearer after Saturday afternoon.

There’s the long-shot scenario in the Big Ten, which suddenly seems a bit more plausible after Ohio State smacked Michigan State, 48-3. Suppose the Buckeyes (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten) win out and demolish Michigan and Wisconsin (the latter in the Big Ten title game) along the way. If there’s enough tumult elsewhere — in addition to a Notre Dame loss last night, Ohio State could capitalize on an Oklahoma loss and Alabama reducing its remaining opposition to rubble — why couldn’t it happen?